Street-cleaning machine.



D M H c s A STREET CLEANING MACHINE.

(Application filed. May 14, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ANTON SCHMIDT, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUN GARY, ASSIGN OR TO MARIE HOLAUBEK, OF SAME PLACE.

STREET-CLEANING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,618, dated October 15, 1901. Application filed May 14; 1901. $erial No. 60,142. (No model.)

1'0 ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that LANTON SOHMIDT,painter, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing in XVII, Beheimgasse 38, Vienna, Austriadlungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street-Cleaning Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention has reference to improvements in street-cleaning machines, and

relates more especially to a street-cleaning.

machine of the wagon type provided with runninggear and adapted to be propelled by animal or machine power. The wagonbody in the present invention is divided into three distinct parts or compartments, the front compartment constituting the receptacle for the dirt or snow taken up from the street, the middle compartment containing two endless conveyers arranged parallel, or approximately so, to one another, the one scraping or brushing up the dirt or snow from the street and carrying it to the other one, which in its part carries it to the aforementioned receptacle, and the third compartment containing Water for sprinkling purposes.

In order to make the invention more readily understood, I have illustrated it on the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional elevation of a street-cleaning machine accordin g to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a fragment of a somewhat-modified form of construction, scoops being here employed in lieu of the brushes shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a rolling dust-guard for confining the dust at the point of contact of the main conveyer with the ground. Fig. 4 illustrates my improved form of mounting for the elevating devices of the conveyers; and Fig. 5 represents a form of brush conveyor, partly in section, for car-rail-cleaning purposes. 7

Referring to the drawings, 2 is the wagonbody, carried by Wheels 1, which is divided into three compartments 16, 37, and 28, respectively. In the middle compartment 37, Fig. 1, is arranged obliquely a brush conveyer, consisting of an endless belt, band, or chain 5 running over suitably-journaled re volving disks 3 and 4. To the part 5 I shall hereinafter referas a band; but I want it to be particularly understood that it may be any other form of substantially similar flexible device. Upon this band 5 are secured brushes consisting of cross-bars 7 and brush-tufts 6, mounted in said cross bars. The travel of the band 5 is attained by teeth 8, fastened to the inside of the band, engaging corresponding recesses 9, provided in the circumference of the disks 3 4 in the usual manner. The other conveyer is of the cup type and is arranged parallel or approximately parallel to the brush conveyer. This cup conveyer consists of an endless band 12 running over recessed revolving disks 1O 11, suitably journaled, and of cups 13, made up of two side flaps and the preferably slightly-curved front, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. The power for setting in motion the two conveyers is derived from a sprocket-wheel 22, secured upon one of the wagon-wheel axles. A link chain 21 transmits the power to a sprocket-wheel 23, secured upon the axle 24 of the recessed disk 11. Upon this axle 2a is likewise secured a cog-wheel 25, meshing with the cogwheel 26, fast upon the axle 27 of the recessed disk 3. When the machine is moved forward,the conveyers are caused to travel in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The brush conveyor carries the dirt against and up the inclined shield 15 and throws it into the cups 13 of the otherconveyer, which travels with the same speed. As the brushtufts of the one conveyor more or less enter the spaces between the cups of the other conveyer similar to the intermeshing of toothed rods or racks, the dirt is effectually prevented from falling back again and is carried upward and finally deposited into the com partment 16.

In order to prevent the dirt from sticking and clogging up the cups, these latter preferably are journaled loosely with their trunnions 14 in eye-bearings 19, secured to the conveyer-band 12, as shown in Fig. 4. A spring 20 ordinarily retains the cup in. the position shown in Fig. 4. When each cup reaches its highest positiont'. 6., the position where the dirt is to be dumped out into the receptacle 16-a catch 17 retains for a short period the outer end of the cup and causes it to tilt backwardly, the conveyor meanwhile traveling on. Upon the cup being drawn from underneath the catch 17 it is Violently jerked forward by the spring 20, whereby any sticking dirt or mud is caused to part from the cup.

Instead of arranging the cups in the justdescribed manner the endless band 12 may be made elastic, so that upon the respective cup being retained by the catch 17 the band 12 is stretched and by its tension causes-a sudden shaking of the cup, when the latter comes free from the catch.

For allaying the dust stirred up by the operation of the machine water may be sprinkled out of the finely-perforated tube 30, which receives the water from the tank 28 by aid of the cock or valve 29.

Where dust in large quantities or snow is to be dealt with, the brush conveyor is preferably replaced bya scoop conveyer,as shown in Fig. 2. The scoops 31 are fastened to the endless band 5 by means of elastic hinges 32 in the manner described above with reference to the cups 1 3. This arrangement serves a double purpose. In the first place the scoops are protected against damage when striking irregularities of the pavement, and, secondly, they are also acted upon by the stationary catch 17 for loosening up the contents.

In connection with thelast-describedscoopconveyerarrangenientthere maybe provided back of the scoop conveyer a three-sided frame 33, (shown separately in Fig. 3,) running upon small wheels 34 and attached to the walls of the machine by means of screwbolts 36 gliding in longitudinal slots 35, so that the frame which serves to hold down the dust can rise and fall with the irregularities of the ground. This dust-frame is easilyattached to or removed from the machine and can of course also be made use of in connection with the first-described brush conveyer.

In Fig. 5 is shown a form of construction of the brush conveyer adapted for cleaning car-rails. The band 5, carrying the crossbars '7 with brush-tufts 6, is approximately of the width of the rail and runs over recessed disks 4.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a street-cleaning machine, the combination of the body, endless flexible conveyers arranged substantially parallel and in operative coutiguity to each other, one of said conveyers being adapted to take refuse from 5 the ground and the other being adapted to take the refuse from said first-named con veyer, a compartment in said bod y, said other conveyer being adapted to discharge into said compartment, mounting means for said conveyers, means for advancing said conveyors in relatively opposite directions, one of said conveyers comprising elastically controlled and yielding elevating devices,and a catch arranged in said body in the path of movement of said devices, substantially as described.

2. In a street-cleaning machine, the com bination of the body, an endless flexible band arranged in said body, a ref use-receiving compartment in said body, mounting means for said band, means for advancing said band, bearings on said band, scoops having trun nions journaled in said bearings, springs con trolling said scoops, and a catch arranged in said body in the path of movement of said scoops, substantially as described.

3. In a street-cleaning machine, the combination of a three-sided dust-frame, wheels supporting the said frame, and screw-bolts secured to either side of the said frame and adapted to glide Within longitudinal slots provided in the machine side parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of April, 1901.

ANTON SCHMIDT.

Witnesses:

O. B. HURsT, FRANZ REI'IER. 

